People living with some form of disability (physical, visual, hearing or other) or requiring special needs in emergency situations (fire, evacuation, etc.) are strongly encouraged to register on the list. This enables the fire department and public safety staff to plan and adapt their interventions.

The Civil Protection Plan and the Emergency Measures Plan take into account certain needs of people with disabilities, such as access to accommodation in the event of a civil emergency.

Registration form for the list of persons requiring special attention during an emergency

Form to fill

An address must be visible from the street to allow emergency vehicles to identify the location and respond quickly (ambulance, fire department, first responders).

• Remove the snow
• Trim your trees, hedges

Notice of offence

A notice of offence is issued at the second false alarm of a security or fire alarm system. When activated, the flashing of lights and the sounding of the siren must not last more than 15 consecutive minutes.

Fines

Whoever contravenes this by-law commits an offence and is liable to the following, in addition to related fees: 

1. For a first offence, a fine of at least one hundred ($100) but no more than one thousand dollars ($1,000), in the case of a natural person, and of at least two hundred dollars ($200) but no more than two thousand dollars ($2,000) in the case of a legal entity.
2. In the event of a second offence, a fine of at least two hundred ($200) but no more than two thousand dollars ($2,000), in the case of a natural person, and of at least four hundred dollars ($400) but no more than four thousand dollars ($4,000), in the case of a legal entity.

Unnecessary and costly interventions

Most of the alarms that are responded to turn out to be false alarms. This means that emergency workers (police officers, firefighters) have to make their way to false alarm sites and wait for the person in charge of the building to arrive, wasting precious time that should instead be spent on real emergencies. As such, it is clear that false alarms have significant financial and social repercussions.

The installation of a smoke alarm is mandatory on every floor of an inhabited building, including the basement.

All smoke detectors must be :

• Permanently connected to an electric circuit;
• Equipped with A BATTERY as a back-up source in case of a power failure;
• Maintained in perfect working order
• Replaced if defective;
• Replaced if they have been in use for more than 10 years from the date of manufacture.

Although the Service de la sécurité incendie recommends the installation of fire alarms (smoke, heat) connected to a central monitoring station, these should not replace the local smoke alarms required by the Building Code.

Change your clocks, change your battery!

Each time the time changes, the Service de la sécurité incendie reminds you to follow these 3 simple steps:

• I test my smoke alarms to make sure they work.
• I change the batteries in my smoke alarms.
• I'm replacing smoke alarms that are more than 10 years old.

By-law No. 805

The installation of a carbon monoxide alarm is strongly recommended.

The City has a large network of fire hydrants in sectors served by the water network. These hydrants are indicated on the map of water networks.

To avoid restricting access to fire hydrants or interfering with their use, maintenance or required snow removal, it is prohibited to obstruct fire hydrants, paint them, transform their appearance or try to hide them by planting trees, shrubs or other vegetation or to install a fence or other structure that would prevent free access within a one-metre radius.

In certain sectors that are not served a water network, underground water tanks are installed for fire safety purposes. This is specifically the case at:

• The corner of Montée Poirier and Chemin Lotbinière
• The corner of Chemin Sainte-Angélique and Chemin du Fief

Improper storage of hot ashes can cause fires and carbon monoxide poisoning. To dispose of your ashes safely, you should:

• empty the ashes from the fireplace regularly, never using a vacuum cleaner, but rather using a metal shovel;
• place hot ashes in a metal container with a raised bottom and a metal lid;
• take the metal container outside since hot ashes release carbon monoxide;
• place it on a non-combustible surface at least one metre away from any object and far from any combustible materials (e.g.: your house, any other building, wood fences, trees, etc.) and sheltered from the wind;
• wait at least 7 days before transferring the ashes from the metal container to another container (garbage can, compost bin) and stir the ashes to make sure they are completely cool;
• if you can, keep the ashes outside all winter and dispose of them in your brown bin only in the spring (*cigarette/cigar ashes are not accepted*).

Visit quebec.ca to learn how to prevent fire hazards when using a fireplace or wood stove.

Is your cigarette butt really out?

Every year in Québec, smokers’ items that have been thrown on the ground cause an average of 80 wildfires. When the weather is hot and dry, a cigarette butt that is thrown into dry grass could easily start a fire. Throw a bit of wind into the mix and you’ve got the perfect conditions for a forest fire. To reduce the risk of fire, the SOPFEU recommends that smokers who work or enjoy recreational activities in the forest adopt the following behaviours:

• Do not throw cigarette butts out of vehicle windows since dry grass can ignite quickly.
• Do not throw cigarette butts on the ground since fertilizer, wood chips, peat moss, vermiculite, black earth (mineral soil), mulch and commercial soil are flammable organic substances that can fuel fires.
• Never extinguish a cigarette butt in landscaping, as the fire could feed there for several hours before bursting out and spreading rapidly to nearby building structures.
• Extinguish your cigarette butts by wetting them or crushing them on a rock;
• Dispose of cigarette butts in a container intended for this purpose.

In accordance with Article 6 of the Forest Protection Regulation, “no person may smoke in or near a forest from April 1 to November 15 while working or traveling, except in a building or closed vehicle.” Offenders are subject to fines between $1,000 and $5,000.

Check the SOPFEU map regularly for fire risk ratings and and always respect the city's outdoor fire by-law, available here.

What if Your Flower Pots Caught Fire?

Did you know that nearly 20% of residential fires are caused by smoking materials and their improper disposal?

As the warm weather settles in and you enjoy more and more outdoor activities, the Service des incendies would like to remind you that flower pots are not ashtrays. These makeshift ashtrays, including flowerbeds and mulch, are a real danger for many reasons:

• Soil and potting compost used for plant growth can contain chemical fertilizers and organic materials that are combustible. 
• Dry potting soil creates an environment extremely conducive to slow combustion, which can lead to an uncontrollable fire.
• Slow combustion can progress to the point of melting plastic planters, leading to ignition of the planter and surrounding structures.

This type of fire is particularly insidious, as it can take several hours from the moment a cigarette butt is thrown away for the first flames to appear.

Be vigilant and put out your cigarette butts in the outdoor ashtrays provided in public places, or at home, use a deep tin can filled with sand or water.

Any person who holds an activity—most notably a dance, concert or an activity where persons plan to sleep inside certain facilities—outside the regular hours of operation of a public establishment must inform the Fire Department so that the latter can draw up an emergency intervention plan. Notification can be provided by filling out the required form at least 72 hours in advance. Additional security measures may be required.

Every year, the Fire Department conducts forty or so fire drills in schools, daycares, housing co-ops and public buildings.

Authorized locations and distances

Authorized as accessory equipment only:

• In rear setback, rear yard, side setback or side yard:
  At a minimum distance of 2 metres from property lines
  
  
• In side setback :
  At a maximum distance of 1.5 metres from the main building

In the event of any discrepancy between this document and current by-law 1173, the latter shall prevail.

Use your generators safely!

A portable generator can be very useful, especially in the event of a power failure, but it must be used and installed properly, otherwise it can be a source of danger.

One of the main risks is carbon monoxide poisoning.

Be cautious, and find out what to do on the Canadian Red Cross website.

In buildings where portable fire extinguishers are required by municipal by-law, property owners are advised to entrust inspection and maintenance work to reputable and serious companies with a known business address.

Although municipal by-laws do not require portable fire extinguishers in private homes, they are still highly recommended.

Property owners must:

• Shake their fire extinguishers once a month to prevent the powder inside from compacting. To do this, simply tip the extinguisher upside down and shake it.
• Check your ABC-powder non-disposable portable fire extinguisher every 6 years from the date of manufacture, even if it is in good condition. Most notably, you should check the device's overall condition as well as the condition of the hose and pressure gauge, and the correct positioning of the pin. You should also clean it and have it recharged.
• At the 12th year of manufacture, have a hydrostatic test done by a specialized firm.
• Recharge a non-disposable extinguisher that has been used, even if only partially.
• If you have used a disposable extinguisher, throw it away safely and get a new one.
• Have your portable extinguisher checked by a specialized firm if it is damaged, if the gauge indicates pressure that is too high or too low, or if the pin is missing.
• Beware of peddlers of specialized firms. The City of Saint-Lazare does not mandate any company to inspect portable fire extinguishers in single-family homes.

Permit required

• It is strictly forbidden to use any fireworks/pyrotechnics on Saint-Lazare’s territory without having previously obtained a permit.
  
• Even though fireworks are legally available for you to purchase, using them without authorization is a municipal offence.
• It is a municipal offence to use fireworks without authorization and their negligent use could result in criminal charges. By launching non-compliant and unauthorized fireworks, you could be one spark away from causing a destructive fire that could destroy dozens of homes, decimate acres of forest, claim lives, and decimate wildlife and flora. Don’t be the next to trigger a disaster!
• Residents must submit an official request to the Fire Department at least fifteen (15) days before they plan to use fireworks.

Consult By-law 805 to learn about the conditions to be met in order to obtain a permit.

Did you witness fireworks you think are non-compliant and unauthorized? Call 450 319-5000 or dial 9-1-1.

In Saint-Lazare, open-air fires are still prohibited, except on agricultural land for farming purposes, for which a permit must first be obtained from the Service de la sécurité incendie et de la sécurité publique.

Under By-law 805, only recreational/residential open-air fires are authorized without a permit under the following conditions:

Home-made fire pits:

• Maximum surface area of 1 square meter;
• Minimum height of 10 cm;
• Maximum height of 60 cm;
• Placed a minimum of 3 meters away from any combustible materials;
• Placed a minimum of 3 meters away from any property lines;
• Only authorized combustible materials may be burned.

Fire pits with a screen:

• Maximum surface area of 0.5 square meters;
• Equipped with a chimney and screen;
• Placed a minimum of 2 meters away from any combustible materials;
• Placed a minimum of 2 meters away from any property lines;
• Only authorized combustible materials may be burned.

Open-air fires:

• Open fires are prohibited, except on agricultural land for agricultural purposes;
• A resident must have obtained a permit (e.g. for a bonfire, fireworks display and/or campfire).

You must:

• Watch the fire closely at all times;
• Keep the fire contained within the fire pit;
• Have extinguishing equipment on hand to put out the fire quickly and completely if needed (e.g.: a water tank, hose, a water-based extinguisher or chemical extinguisher);
• Ensure that the life, safety and integrity of any person or their property is not compromised at any time;
• Ensure that your fire is not bothersome to your neighbours (smoke is considered a nuisance).

Check SOPFEU's (Société de protection des forêts contre le feu) fire danger before starting a fire!

When the risk of fire is:

• Low, moderate or high: this is the right time to light your fire;
• Very high: it is prohibited to make a fire unless your firepit is equipped with spark arrestor screens;
• Extreme: avoid fires due to the high flammability of the environment.

Combustible

The only authorized combustibles are wood and wood by-products such as paper.

It is prohibited to burn:

• grass;
• grass clippings;
• dead leaves;
• pine needles;
• garbage;
• any other material.

Smoke - nuisance

According to By-law RMH 450, smoke constitutes a nuisance and is therefore prohibited for property owners, tenants or occupants of a building to start a fire or allow a fire of any kind from which smoke or ashes spread to other properties.

Fines

An individual who fails to comply with the by-laws RMH 450 and 805, commits an infraction and is liable to :

1. For a first offence, a fine between $200 and $1,000 in the case of a natural person, and between $400 and $2,000 in the case of a legal entity;
2. For a second offence, a fine between $400 and $2,000 in the case of a natural person, and between $800 and $4,000 in the case of a legal entity.

Checklist

Consult our checklist on outdoor fires to enjoy the pleasures of an open-air fire in complete safety!

Checklist on outdoor fires.pdf

Chimney sweeping helps prevent fires and carbon monoxide poisoning, by allowing smoke and gases to escape more easily. It also removes the highly flammable soot and creosote clinging to the chimney walls.

Have your chimney swept at least once a year, depending on the quality and quantity of wood burned. We recommend doing it in spring, when deposits are still dry and easier to remove. What's more, if the chimney sweep reports a problem, you'll have time to make the necessary repairs before winter.

Chimney sweep logs or chemical additives should never replace professional chimney sweeping. These products only remove part of the creosote deposits. Only a professional chimney sweep can effectively remove them.

Number authorized per dwelling

• A maximum of three propane tanks or cylinders are authorized
• With a maximum total capacity of 3000 liters
• Including the tank for a pool

Authorized location and distance

Authorized only as accessory equipment:

• In rear setback or backyard :
  At a minimum distance of two (2) metres from property lines
  
  
• Side yard :
  At a maximum distance of two (2) metres from the main building

In the event of any discrepancy between this document and current by-law 1173, the latter shall prevail.

Fire Prevention Week generally takes place the first week of October.

Every year in Québec, fires result in an average of:

• 14 damaged houses per day
• 400 injuries
• 29,000 evacuees
• Nearly 49% of residential fires are related to distraction or human error.
• Among fire victims, 45% are over 65 years old.
  
  

Protect yourself and your family:

• Have smoke alarms in good working order
• Prepare your escape plan and practice it
• Adopt safe behaviours
• If you smoke:
  • completely extinguish cigarettes in a deep ashtray with a broad edge or in a tin can filled with sand if you are outdoors
  • never smoke in bed or in a position in which you risk falling asleep
  • store lighters, matches and other smokers’ supplies out of the reach of children
    
    

Visit the Web site of the Public Safety department to get more useful advice on:

• how to prevent cooking fires
• hazards near heat sources
• chimney sweeping and hot ashes
• carbon monoxide
• electricity
  

Because you have less than 3 minutes to exit a burning building, each and every minute counts. That’s why it’s important to keep emergency exits clear at all times and shovel any snow accumulated in front of these exits every day. This includes basement windows.

Since you are personally responsible for ensuring your own safety, here are a few tips to follow during the holiday season:

Christmas trees

• Put up your natural or artificial trees far from any heat sources (electric baseboard, heater, fireplace, etc.).
• Place your natural tree in a container filled with water and make sure you water the base of the tree every day.
• Choose an artificial tree over a natural tree to reduce the risk of fire.
• After the holidays, take advantage of the Town’s natural tree collection to dispose of your tree in an ecological manner.
  
  

Decorative lights

• Choose CSA or ULC approved lights. Make sure they are in good working order and install them according to the manufacturer’s instructions.
• Turn them off at night and before you leave home.
  
  

Candles

• Always keep an eye on lit candles.
• Place your candles on a stable surface away from flammable materials.
• Keep them out of reach of children and animals.
• Extinguish all candles before leaving a room or home.
• Choose LED candles for safe use.
  
  

Holiday cooking

• Avoid distractions when cooking (smoking, talking on the phone, visiting social media, etc.).
• Do not store objects in the oven or on the cooking surface.
• Keep children away from the stove.
• Be sure to turn off cooking appliances before leaving the room or home.
  
  

Smoke alarms and batteries

• It is important to have at least one good smoke alarm per floor.
• Be sure to always have extra batteries on hand so you never have to take the batteries out of your alarms to replace those in battery-powered devices or toys.
• Choose a smoke alarm with a 10-year lithium battery to help keep you safe for a longer period of time.
  
  

Portable electric heaters

• Plug the device directly into the outlet.
• Always use a CSA or ULC approved device.
• Turn the device off at night or before you leave your home.
• Keep the device at least one metre away from any flammable material.
  
  

Extension cords

• Use CSA or ULC approved extension cords.
• Do not overload the electrical circuit. Use a power bar instead.
• Replace any damaged or heat-emitting cords.
  
  

Exits and access routes

• Remove snow from exits, balconies, decks and windows after each snowfall.
• Ensure access routes to these exits are clear.
  
  

Hot ashes

• Cool hot ashes outside in a metal container with a metal lid.
• Keep the ash container a minimum of one metre away from any combustible material.
• Wait at least seven days before transferring them to the brown bin.
  
  

Fondue burners

• Place the burner on a stable surface that supports heat.
• Never fill it when it is hot. Use a second burner instead.
• Opt for an electric fondue stove instead.

Since 2017, the Service Incendie de Saint-Lazare has included a team of specialized responders to assist paramedics in the evacuation of patients with special mobility needs.

A specialty that requires training and expertise in order to carry out the intervention with respect and dignity for the patient, as well as prevent the risk of accidents during evacuation.

Types of operation :

• Bariatric patients (morbid obesity)
• Accessibility or evacuation difficulties
• Layout where premises pose difficulties

Territories served :

The Service responds to bariatric medical evacuation calls from patients in a territory serving 54 municipalities, or 260,164 residents:

• MRC de Roussillon (4 municipalities)
• MRC des Jardins-de-Napierville (3 municipalities)
• MRC du Haut-Saint-Laurent
• MRC de Beauharnois-Salaberry
• MRC de Vaudreuil–Soulanges
  
  

Information sheet

In the event of an emergency in an isolated environment, Saint-Lazare firefighters act as specialized responders to provide basic medical care and return victims safely to the public highway.

They can also provide assistance to paramedics to enable them to reach the rescue scene quickly.

Types of intervention :

• VTT / snowmobile accident
• Fall on horseback
• Medical problems
• Search for missing persons

The department is fully equipped to respond to off-road incidents.

These include the parc nature les Forestiers-de-Saint-Lazare, VTT and snowmobile trails, and equestrian paths.

Since 2011, Saint-Lazare firefighters have become Level 3 First Responders. This is the highest level of PR training. The addition of this specialty enables them to respond to life-threatening emergencies while waiting for paramedics.

This essential service ensures fast, efficient response to people in distress. Their role is to stabilize the condition of victims in medical emergencies.

They apply protocols designed to prevent a person's condition from deteriorating until the arrival of paramedics. When the paramedics arrive, first responders transfer responsibility for the intervention to them.

Types of intervention :

• Road accident
• Cerebrovascular accident
• Assault
• Allergy
• Cardiac or respiratory arrest
• Traumatic injury
• Burn
• Fall
• Convulsion
• Chest pain
• Electrification
• Pregnancy or childbirth
• Bleeding
• Unconsciousness
• Drowning / diving accident
• Heart problems
• Psychiatric problem
• Respiratory problems
• Overdose or intoxication
  

Please note that first responders do not perform in-home assessments. You must call 911, and the health communication center will assign response teams according to the level of life-threatening emergency.

In order to comply with the requirements of the law on Fire Safety Act, the Service de sécurité incendie et de la sécurité publique (SSPSI) de la Ville conducts prevention visits to residences, usually during the summer months.

These visits are intended to:

• Reduce the number of lives lost due to fires;
• Reduce material loss due to fires;
• Promote safe actions and behaviours to eliminate the risk of fire in the home;
• Answer residents’ questions about fire safety;
• Inform residents of fire safety by-laws;
• Ensure that residents comply with these by-laws.

Identification

During visits, personnel will be duly identified with a service card and the uniform of the Service de la sécurité publique et de la sécurité incendie de la Ville de Saint-Lazare. They will also use one of the service's identified vehicles.

Enquiries

When visiting a residence without an appointment :

• The personnel will ask questions about the presence of smoke / carbon monoxide detectors, portable fire extinguishers, etc.
• This information will be collected for statistical purposes and for more targeted campaigns.

Non-compliance report

In the event of non-compliance with municipal regulations, a corrective action report will be submitted.

If you have any questions or concerns, please contact the Service de sécurité incendie et de la sécurité publique at 450-424-8000, ext. 207.